Digital Photography and Imaging · Project 1 : Collage

3/10/2023 - 17/10/2023 / Week 1 -  Week 4

YANG ZHI CHING / 0365154

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media

Project 1: Collage

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LECTURES

Week 1 | Introduction of Digital Photograph and Imaging

Mr.Mohd Fauzi had briefed us about the introduction of the module. Adobe Photoshop will be the main software in this module, so we need to make sure that we have installed it. Mr Mhod Fauzi listed out why we need to learn PS:

• express you creative

• create graphic design

• restoration of old images

• integrate graphics with text artistically

• make use of brushes

• change photo color

• rectify mistakes in photographs

• etc..

All in all, Adobe Photoshop makes our works more convenient and efficient.

Mr.Mohd Fauzi also gave us 10 tips to improve our Photoshop skill:

• follow tutorials on Tiktok/Instagram
• experiment
• memorize keyboard shortcuts
• replicate others works
• participate competition
• subscribe online gallery
• smart objects
• scaling artworks and proportions
• use actions to personalise work
• organize the files properly

Week 2 | Concept of Composition and Preparation of Collage

Mr. Mohd Fauzi had introduced the Basic Composition, Rules of Third, Golden Ratio, Composition framing & cropping.

Basic Composition

fig.1.1 Focal Point

fig.1.2 Scale of Hierarchy 

fig.1.3 Balance the Elements

fig.1.4 White Space

Rules of Third

fig.2.1 basic of Rules of Third

fig.2.2 example

fig.2.3 example

Golden Ratio

fig3.1 

Golden Ratio fosters organic and natural-looking compositions that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

fig.3.2 example

fig.3.3 example

Composition framing and cropping

Composition used in Framing:

• Single
• Two Shot
• Three Shot
• Four Shot
• Five Shot
• Crowd Shot
• Over the Shoulder
• Point of View (POV)
• Insert Shot

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PROJECT 1 · COLLAGE

Physical Collage ·

Gathering of Materials |

Materials cut from magazines and plastic bag:

fig 4.1 collected materials, Week 2

Pre - composition |

1.  Composition #1

fig 4.2 position #1, Week 2

In this composition, I picked something out of the material that was as pontential as possioble. I made David the subject and let him hold a old camera with facial features. I thought that would make the image playful.

2. Composition #2

fig 4.3 position #2, Week 2

I positioned David between the two legs, which I always think is an interesting composition, and make the scraps of plastic bag to become his mask. But after finishing it I thought the whole composition was a bit empty and irrelevant.

3.  Composition #3

fig 4.4 composition #3, Week 2

I wanted to try a collage of facial features, but fingding the suitable material was a challenge. And it cannot fully reflect the composition of the picture.


Final Physical Collage | 

<Make David Great Again>

fig 4.5 Final Composition, Week 3

The idea of this work is to resurrect the familiar statue "David" and lead a new trend with a novel aesthetic.

Digital Collage ·

1.  Composition #1

fig 5.1 composition #1, Week 3

2.  Composition #2

fig 5.2 composition #2, Week 3

3.  Composition #3

fig 5.3 composition #3, Week 3

From the feedback given by Mr,Mohd Fauzi, composition #2 would be better, we are asked to add adjustment to the selected works.

fig 5.4 Adjustment Layers in Composition #2, Week 4

I've adjusted the tones of the image to make it more uniform, and I've adjusted some of the positions so that the composition of the elements is closer to the golden ratio.

fig 5.5 Final Digital Callage with Golden Ratio, Week 4

Final Digital Collage | 

fig 5.5 Final Digital Callage without Golden Ratio, Week 4

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FEEDBACK

Week 2 · Physical Collage

Specific Feedback: 

Good practice. Mr. Mohd Fauzi suggested me to choose Composition #1 for my final collage submission in Project 1.

Week 3 · Digital Collage

Specific Feedback: 

Good series of collage. Mr. Mohd Fauzi suggested me to choose COMPOSITION #2 for my final collage.

 

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REFLECTION

Experience ·

In the first week of class, Mr Fauzi asked us to collect and cut out things that could be used as collage materials. If there are no usable materials at home, he suggested that we go to physical stores to get free magazines, such as Uniqlo. So, I grabbed a magazine from Uniqlo and bought a fashion magazine in the bookstore. All of the materials for my collage assignment came from these two books, and the way I chose the images was to pick the ones in the book that looked feasible and cut them out. Due to material limitations, I only made three types of layouts. In the later digital collage, as there was a prepared material library, the operation was much easier. The process of doing adjustment layer of digital collage was fun to me.

Observation ·

After observing the works of other students, I found that some outstanding students not only followed the tutorials provided by the teacher, but they usually added more embellishments to their works based on the skills they had already mastered.

Findings ·

I want to be able to combine my own style and produce better work, but I first need to find my strengths. Therefore, finding my own style will be one of my learning goals this semester.

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